Amputee and his wife inspire the world

Photo of Marine vet and helpmate evokes tragedy of war, and power of love

Offering himself and his two stumps as a real-life example that it can always be worse, Jesse persuaded the Marine to let his family in.

Romance

Cottle was learning to walk on tall prosthetic legs, using canes, when he met Kelly. The Boise, Idaho, college student was in town for a swim meet. Their mothers knew each other from Bible study.

The connection was instantaneous. Kelly felt a “bothersome” draw toward Jesse, as if she was meant to be his helpmate.

He was intrigued by her South African accent but thought her too beautiful to be in his league. And he wondered about his amputations. “I was pretty apprehensive. I thought I’m still me, I’m not any different. But I worried if she would be weirded out.”

Later when they began dating, Kelly was warned, “rightfully so,” she said, to think hard about whether she was prepared to take on so much.

But “it was just so natural,” how they fell in love, Jesse said. As his mother put it, “they fit like puzzle pieces.”

The first time Jesse and Kelly went to the beach together, Cottle scooted toward the surf. After a swim, the trip back to shore was exhausting for him, sputtering through the waves eating sand.

The next time she made a gentle offer to carry him, not wanting to offend. His 130 pounds was no problem for her athletic build, but Cottle had to swallow his ego.

“I felt kinda weird, knowing everyone was looking at us,” he said.

Now they don’t think anything of it. Like any good spouse, his wife supports him, emotionally, physically, Cottle said.

“They never sit around and feel sorry for themselves,” Peggy Cottle said. “A lesser person would have said we aren’t going to the beach anymore because it’s just too embarrassing. He’s never been that way. It was of course I’m going to the beach, I love the beach!”

Jesse wore a tux and proposed in the kitchen of their University City apartment. Then they danced to the song on the stereo, the one that would serenade them at their wedding Aug. 18, 2012. A couple hundred people came to the ceremony at Liberty Station, some from as far as South Africa and Alaska. Hilty was best man.

“They are really positive about the outlook, where they are going in life,” Hilty said. “They are a great couple to be around. You can tell they really like each other. It’s obvious they got married for all the right reasons, simply because they are in love.”

Before he was wounded, Jesse wanted to become a Marine fighter pilot. Now he is studying biology at University of San Diego and may pursue prosthetics technology after graduate studies.

The couple has Rocky, their boxer puppy, and plan for children someday.

“I want a career. I want those goals, I want to work toward something and to help people,” Jesse said. Sitting back and living off disability income, “that’s just not who I am.”